Washing machine

Abstract

Provided is a washing machine having an improved structure for efficiently controlling a distribution of washing water to improve washing performance. The washing machine includes a tub, a rotary tub rotatably provided inside of the tub, a tub cover coupled to the tub to prevent washing water from overflowing the tub, and a plurality of guide units formed on a bottom surface of the tub cover to guide the washing water into the inside of the rotary tub. The plurality of guide units includes a first guide having an outer end spaced from an edge of the tub cover in an inward direction of the tub cover, a second guide having an outer end spaced from the edge of the tub cover in the inward direction of the tub cover, and disposed to be spaced apart from the first guide in a circumferential direction of the tub cover, and a third guide connecting the outer end of the first guide and the outer end of the second guide.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A washing machine comprising:
 a tub; 
 a rotary tub rotatably provided inside of the tub; 
 a tub cover coupled to the tub to prevent water from overflowing the tub and having an opening formed in a central portion of the tub cover; 
 a plurality of guide units formed on a bottom surface of the tub cover, the plurality of guide units including:
 a first guide unit; and 
 a second guide unit spaced apart from the first guide unit to form an inner flow path for guiding the water into an inside of the rotating tub, each of the first guide unit and the second guide unit including: 
 a first guide having an outer end spaced from an edge of the tub cover in an inward direction of the tub cover; 
 a second guide having an outer end spaced from the edge of the tub cover in the inward direction of the tub cover, and disposed to be spaced apart from the first guide in a circumferential direction of the tub cover; and 
 a third guide connecting the outer end of the first guide and the outer end of the second guide, 
 
 an inner rib disposed adjacent to the opening of the tub cover to connect the first guide and the second guide; and 
 an outer flow path formed along the circumferential direction of the tub cover to guide the water to the inner flow path, wherein the outer flow path is provided between the third guide and the edge of the tub cover along a radial direction of the tub cover. 
 
     
     
       2. The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the third guide has a curvature larger than a curvature of the opening and smaller than a curvature of the edge of the tub cover. 
 
     
     
       3. The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the first guide and the second guide extend from the opening toward the edge of the tub cover. 
     
     
       4. The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a balancer coupled to the rotary tub to compensate dynamic imbalance during a rotation of the rotary tub, and 
 wherein the tub cover comprises:
 a first portion positioned in outer side of the tub cover and facing the balancer; and 
 a second portion positioned in inner side of the tub cover and in which the plurality of guide units are formed. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of guide units are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the tub cover, and
 the inner rib is formed between the plurality of guide units adjacent to each other such that the water rising along one wall of the tub by a rotation of the rotary tub hits the inner rib and is sprayed into the rotary tub. 
 
     
     
       6. The washing machine according to  claim 5 , wherein one end of the inner rib meets with a first guide of one of the plurality of guide units facing each other, and the other end of the inner rib meets with a second guide of the other one of the plurality of guide units facing each other. 
     
     
       7. The washing machine according to  claim 6 , wherein one of both ends of the inner rib is positioned in outer side of the tub cover than the other one of the both ends of the inner rib. 
     
     
       8. The washing machine according to  claim 6 , wherein when an angle (θ) formed by a tangent line (T) at one of a first intersection point (A), at which one end of the inner rib and a first guide of one of the plurality of guide units meet, and a second intersection point (B), at which the other end of the inner rib and a second guide of the other one of the plurality of guide units meet, and a straight line (L) connecting the first intersection point (A) and the second intersection point (B) is an inner rib angle, at least one of the inner rib has a different inner rib angle. 
     
     
       9. The washing machine according to  claim 8 , wherein a first inner rib and a second inner rib having a different inner rib angle are alternately arranged. 
     
     
       10. The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one cushion rib is formed on the bottom surface of the tub cover to be positioned in an outer side of the tub cover than the third guide. 
     
     
       11. The washing machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one cushion rib has a closed loop shape formed along the circumferential direction of the tub cover.